Costa Concordia salvage nears final phase
GIGLIO, Italy (Reuters) – Salvage crews lifted the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner off a rock shelf on Monday as they worked deep into the night to complete one of the most difficult and expensive maritime salvage operations ever undertaken.
Two major storms lash Mexico, 41 dead amid ‘historic’ floods
ACAPULCO (Reuters) – Two powerful storms pummeled Mexico as they converged from the Pacific and the Gulf on Monday, killing at least 41 people and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands amid some of the worst flooding in decades.
Western powers press Assad to comply; U.N. confirms sarin used
PARIS/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United States, Britain and France warned President Bashar al-Assad on Monday that there would be consequences if he failed to hand over Syria’s chemical weapons, and said a U.N. report on the August 21 sarin gas att…
U.N. confirms sarin used in Syria attack; U.S., UK, France blame Assad
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. chemical investigators on Monday confirmed the use of sarin nerve agent in an August 21 poison gas attack outside the Syrian capital in a long-awaited report that the United States, Britain and France said proved governm…
Six Chinese officials stand trial for torture in landmark case
BEIJING (Reuters) – Six Communist Party officials will stand trial in China on Tuesday on charges of torturing a man to death during an internal investigation in a case that has exposed the secret workings of the party’s judicial system.
Turkish warplanes shoot down Syrian helicopter
YAYLADAGI, Turkey (Reuters) – Turkey said its warplanes shot down a Syrian helicopter on Monday after it crossed into Turkish airspace and the government warned it had taken all necessary measures to defend itself against any further such violations.
New poll could curb Berlusconi’s temptation to sink government
ROME (Reuters) – An opinion poll on Monday showed Silvio Berlusconi’s party falling behind its center-left rivals and could undermine the media tycoon’s temptation to bring down Italy’s shaky coalition government over his tax fraud conviction.
Sudan president seeks U.S. visa for U.N. visit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States condemned on Monday the president of Sudan’s application for a U.S. visa to attend a U.N. meeting next week, saying he should face charges of war crimes and genocide at the International Criminal Court.
Putin: Russia to reopen Soviet-era Arctic military base
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is reopening a Soviet-era military base in the Arctic, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday, part of a drive to make the northern coast a global shipping route and secure the region’s vast energy resources.
Colombian former President Uribe to run for Senate
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s former President Alvaro Uribe, revered by many for crippling the power of the country’s guerrillas, said on Monday he plans to return to politics by seeking election to the Senate in March.
